Over the previous couple of years, BMW has began to win me again. I do should say I’m not a lot of a fan of the brand new 3 and 4 Collection’ grills – these look hideous. Nevertheless, outdoors of these buck-toothed-grill automobiles, BMW has some beautiful fashions, together with the most recent 5 Collection that I had an opportunity to take a look at within the M550i xDrive taste.
We shouldn’t get the brand new “M-Sport-Collection” fashions confused with the full-on M variations of BMW automobiles. They nonetheless have a lineup of potent M automobiles beginning with the M2 all the best way as much as the M8 with the 2 X5M and X6M crossovers blended in between. Outdoors of the brand new BMW M5, there’s the M550i xDrive, which takes the strategy because the top-trim stage for the 5 Collection that’s not a real M automotive. If that’s just a little complicated, it’s okay, I’m positive you’re not alone. However comply with me right here.
The brand new 2021 BMW M550i xDrive takes place as the highest 5 Collection that you may get earlier than reaching the 600+ horsepower M5. The M550i will get a twin-turbo 4.4-liter V8 engine good for an exceptionally wholesome 523 horsepower and 553 lb-ft of torque. The ZF-sourced 8-speed automated transmission is a gem that fires off fast and direct shifts earlier than energy is routed to all 4 wheels, which is the one method the M550i could be had. The M550i xDrive additionally will get the help of rear-wheel steering, an M sport differential, and an M-inspired adaptive suspension system that does nicely for a near-perfect steadiness of sport and luxurious out on the highway solely subtilty modified by every drive mode. Collectively, the drivetrain of the M550i xDrive is a candy spot for amble efficiency and an opulent trip high quality – good for a each day driver which will complement an unique automobile that you could have within the storage. I say this as a result of the M550i one way or the other manages to seek out an gratifying median between the beating M5 and a lower-trimmed 540i with its turbocharged inline 6-cylinder engine. Nonetheless, zero to 60 mph fires off in a fast 3.6 seconds, which is due to the ability improve over the BMW 550i from two years in the past with solely 456 horsepower.
Gasoline consumption is on par for what you count on out of a 523 horsepower sedan. The EPA-estimated 17 mpg metropolis and 25 mpg freeway is about what you’re going to get in the actual world burning the required premium unleaded.
There’s a pleasant cohesive design and driving dynamics to the brand new M550i xDrive, one which has been re-worked over the previous few years to finish up in good concord with the 2021 mannequin yr. The 5 Collection is already a beautiful sports activities luxurious sedan, and the 21’ mannequin yr refreshes issues to make it look even higher with out turning off onlookers resulting from “an excessive amount of.” I say that as a result of BMW has made some daring selections of their grill choices on many automobiles, but the brand new 5 Collection appears to be like the correct half the place issues are nonetheless in pleasant proportion, throughout. There’s rather a lot to love concerning the M550 xDrive that I’ve in my possession, from its darkened exterior trim, restyled LED laser headlights which might be the most effective lights I’ve skilled in a automotive, to the darkened LED taillights and sporty-looking 20-inch wheels wrapped with low profile Bridgestone efficiency tires.
The M550i xDrive isn’t too tender, and it’s not close to as aggressive as its M5 counterpart. Once more, there’s a pleasant, candy spot to take pleasure in within the M550i that may win over many patrons for a range-topping midsized sporty luxurious sedan. Different mentionable modifications for the brand new M550i begins with an up to date adaptive cruise management system with traffic-jam help that excels the hands-free driving expertise. Now, the system shows acknowledged automobiles within the dashboard considerably just like what Tesla does. The system even acknowledges the scale of automobiles to inform the distinction in a Semi-truck or regular automotive that you just’re approaching or about to move. The lane change help characteristic additionally works higher than it’s ever in a BMW – however the system nonetheless begs that you just hold your arms on the wheel if it detects no steering interplay after a number of seconds. Presumably, by utilizing eye detection the system will permit longer “hands-free” driving within the close to future.
The inside of the BMW M550i xDrive is most of what you count on in a modern-day BMW, just about mimicking what you discover in the remainder of the refreshed lineup. One factor to notice is the usage of a wider local weather management heart beneath the audio controls is retained within the new 5 Collection as a substitute of using BMW’s smaller and narrower controls you discover in some automobiles, comparable to their X SUV fashions. The optionally available gesture controls proceed to be considerably of a novelty, however they do hold you and your passengers entertained as they look on the giant 12.3-inch iDrive infotainment touchscreen. The most recent iteration of iDrive continues to be extra user-friendly with exceptionally quick responses to your inputs, that are redundant via the iDrive controller knob and buttons that may be mimicked by touching the display or via a pair gestures of your hand for fast changes of the quantity and audio observe ahead and reverse.
BMW has a smooth design and a fragile strategy to the brand new 5 Collection, which is an effective factor to keep away from turning off customers. The M550i xDrive solely elevates that welcomed cohesiveness however it all comes at a hefty worth. Whereas the brand new 5 Collection begins at simply $54,200 for the bottom turbocharged 4-cylinder 530i mannequin, the M550i xDrive begins at $76,800 and for my loaded check automobile issues get a bit ridiculous at an as-tested worth of $93,735, together with a $995 vacation spot cost. Thoughts you, that worth checks nearly each choice package deal field accessible for the brand new M550i xDrive. You solely have to leap one other $10,000 from there to get into a brand new M5 with out extra choices – granted, the brand new M5 is probably not for everybody contemplating it’s practically a second sooner to 60 mph and could also be a bit overkill on public roads for some. Nonetheless, each the M550i and M5 are winners in my guide, and I like them higher than the Mercedes-AMG E53 and E63S.
